Curry Brand Signs University of South Carolina Guard as
its First Collegiate Athlete
BALTIMORE, March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Under Armour, Inc.
(NYSE: UA, UAA) announced today that it has signed University of South Carolina guard MiLaysia
Fulwiley to a multi-year NIL (name, image, and likeness)
partnership with Curry Brand. As the first collegiate athlete to
sign with Curry Brand at an Under Armour school, Fulwiley will wear
Curry Brand footwear on the court throughout the remainder of her
college career at the University of South
Carolina. Off the court, she will be a brand ambassador,
expanding the Curry Brand's reach and commitment to change the game
for good across the collegiate and women's basketball landscape.
Fulwiley will also collaborate with the Curry Brand team on player
exclusives, highlighting the best of the brand and showcasing her
personality and style.
"We are thrilled to have MiLaysia officially join the Curry
Brand family," said Ryan Drew, the
GM of Curry Brand. "MiLaysia embodies the type of athlete with whom
we love to partner: she is a highly motivated, talented and
community-driven young athlete who works every day to compete at
the highest level. As we continue to grow and diversify the Curry
Brand, we are excited to partner with her and deepen our roots in
the collegiate athlete community."
Before coming to this partnership, Curry Brand was a part of
Fulwiley's life and basketball journey. A native of Columbia, SC, where she now plays
collegiately, Fulwiley played her final season of AAU
basketball for Team Curry, the AAU team sponsored by Stephen Curry and Curry Brand based in
Charlotte, NC. A longtime brand
fan, Fulwiley honed her skills over the years by wearing
various Curry Brand shoes, and her brand loyalty has continued
at the University of South Carolina, an
Under Armour school.
"When it comes to the ability to change the game for good,
nobody can speak to that more than MiLaysia," said Stephen Curry, President of Curry
Brand. "She's changing the women's game on the fly with how
she plays and moves on the court. She has a unique style and flow
to her game that I don't think many people have seen in a long
time. She was a part of Curry Camp, is a Team Curry alumni,
and is currently playing at an Under Armour school, so there are
just so many great tie-ins to the Under Armour family, and
partnering with her and Curry Brand is such a special opportunity.
I'm humbled that she is now a part of the family."
Fulwiley's connection to Curry also shows up in her game,
bringing energy, quickness, and flare to every possession, much
like Stephen Curry himself. And she
has a history of winning, just like Stephen
Curry. Fulwiley, who played six seasons of varsity high
school basketball because she was pulled up early due to her skill,
won four high school state championships in South Carolina and racked up over three
thousand career points and numerous national honors during high
school. In her freshman year playing for women's basketball
powerhouse, the University of South
Carolina, she has averaged 11 points and 2.9 rebounds a
game, contributing significantly to their perfect regular season
record and earning herself a spot on the SEC's All-Freshman
Team. This past weekend, Fulwiley became the first freshman in
South Carolina history to be awarded
the SEC Tournament MVP.
"MiLaysia is a generational player, an artist who is
expanding her understanding of how to marry all aspects of her game
every day," said Dawn Staley, Head
Coach of the University of South
Carolina women's basketball team. "We are learning things
from each other about how to maximize her game, and it has been
incredible to work with her on that process."
In addition to her accomplishments on the court, Fulwiley
continues to have a presence in her local community of Columbia, South Carolina, where she is still
involved with her high school team and grassroots basketball.
Aligned with the Curry Brand's mission to change the game for good,
Fulwiley, Curry Brand, and Under Armour will work together in the
coming years to grow the game of basketball and support the next
generation of athletes in her hometown and beyond.
"It feels incredible to be picked to represent Curry Brand,"
said Fulwiley. "Knowing that I can be a role model for other young
girls to come out here and do exactly what I did is
amazing."
Last year, Curry Brand made history by becoming the first
brand to add an active NBA player, Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron
Fox, to another active NBA player's brand. Building off the
momentum of that signing, Curry Brand plans to launch Fox's first
signature shoe at the end of the calendar year. Additionally, Curry
Brand continues expanding its product offering with a new golf
collection to be released this summer, featuring women's apparel
for the first time. In December
2021, Stephen Curry brought
in the brand's first NIL partnership with UConn guard Azzi
Fudd via her wide-ranging deal with Stephen's Thirty
Ink.
Fulwiley will debut as a Curry Brand athlete in this year's NCAA
Tournament.
About Under Armour
Under Armour, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a leading inventor,
marketer, and distributor of branded athletic performance apparel,
footwear, and accessories. Designed to empower human performance,
Under Armour's innovative products and experiences are engineered
to make athletes better. For further information, please visit
http://about.underarmour.com.
About Curry Brand
A partnership between Stephen
Curry and Under Armour, Curry Brand is a purpose-led
performance brand with a mission to ensure every young person has
equitable access to sports, providing solutions that positively
impact youth sports in under-resourced communities. It aims to
provide youth with new apparel and equipment, access to mentors and
coaches, and safe places to play. Curry Brand features footwear,
apparel, and accessories across multiple categories, including
basketball and golf. Learn more at currybrand.com.
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SOURCE Under Armour, Inc.